You really drew back the curtain for me, reminding me not to fall for the "heroic" Cheney . When Pottinger spoke the glowing words of his president's accomplishments I smelled a rat for the first time.
I think Steve Yarbrough makes a valid point vis-à-vis Liz Cheney. I don't agree with anything she stands for politically but unlike almost all of her Republican contemporaries in the House and Senate, she had the courage to put the country first when it desperately mattered. I think it's unfair to equate her with those who are willing to testify against Trump but freely admit they would vote for him again if he is the Republican nominee. Her contributions to the Committee have been great and her presence, along with that of Adam Kinzinger, have prevented critics from declaring that the January 6 Committee is simply a Democratic hatchet job. And, again, I stress that Liz Cheney and I only have one belief in common: the validity of the US constitution.
Yours is a more moderate view that I think is closer to the truth than today’s 100% repudiation. Pottinger really gave me the creeps with his humble bragging.
yeah, me too. every time one of those assholes talks about TFF's "great things," I yell at the screen and feel actual nausea, since I'm not aware of a more unsuccessful four-year presidential term in my lifetime. I'm not saying that other four-year terms accomplished good things, but they did get the stuff done they wanted to get done. this is my way of addressing "The Bush II Experience," with its rogues' gallery of unindicted war criminals. and Cippolone needs to take a beat to remember the Bronx.
This column is a frickin' doozy. All I can say is I WISH DEMS AND INDEPENDENTS would talk like this, say it loud and repeat key points ad infinitium, à la Bernie Sanders. But then, the Dems have to stop genuflecting before big oil, pharma, AIPAC and other rich lobbies. Just sayin'.
Well stated! I had similar thoughts as the smarmy Pottinger spoke his piece. I get aggravated when I hear, but he did so much good; just like when they said, but we need a good businessman in the office. People need to pull their heads out of their posteriors.
I also thought, but no one is talking about the damage trump and his administration has done to the morality of the country and the norms they have defiled. And I think that Putin was emboldened by trump's either intentional or unwitting actions. One can only imagine what would have happened to NATO and Ukraine if trump was still in office.
Lucian, once again, you are the ONLY commentator who tells it like it is. Pottinger is a smarmy, little weasel, who just "had" to resign on Jan 6th. But, hey, he's still proud of the drumpf administration "accomplishments." And, Sarah Matthews -- the "lifelong Republican" -- just had to leave the WH pursuant to the Jan 6th debacle. What about the 4 years of debacles? And, I'd love to hear Washington Barbie's definition of a "life-long Republican." Hell, the chick's not old enough to have formed any thoughtful ideology. (Guess Mom and Dad live in a nice McMansion, in a gated-community, and got their tax cuts). Then, we have 11th hour Cipollone, who still maintains executive privilege, attorney-client privilege (despite criminal act/content of said "privileged" communication), and suck-up-till-the-end privilege. Cipollone tried to get drumpf to make a statement regarding the violence at the Capitol being perpetrated by drumpf's foot-soldiers. Wow, what a hero. Cipollone thinks Mike Pence should be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for doing his fucking job and not following Dear Leader's demands that he commit an act of treason by overthrowing our government. What a bunch of pathetic white-collar, well-heeled, apparatchik thugs. True representatives of the Rethuglican party. But, hey, only the BEST people.
Back when folks in Northern Ireland were dying during the Troubles (so I was told by an Irish novelist friend of mine) the term ODC came into usage. ODC meant “Ordinary Decent Crime,” like burglary, car theft, even murder as long as it was not related to politics but was a crime of passion or a gangland hit job. Might I propose the term ODR? That would mean an ordinary decent Republican with whom I agree about absolutely nothing but who does not advocate overthrowing the government after losing an election? Our hopes and dreams grow ever smaller. I can go back to disagreeing with Liz Cheney about everything else if she makes certain that all we have to worry about are Republicans like her and her father, who, for the record, I will always despise.
You have precisely identified the reasons I despair for my country. The GOP is a cult in search of a racist theocracy, a heartless monster willing to lie, cheat and steal to get it, destroying our grand experiment in the process. But where would we be without these witnesses, vile as they are? I have despised Republicans playing along with Trump and his predecessors for so long now (Ronald Reagan? Really?) that I’ve completely lost my perspective on human decency in a civil society. I appreciate your pointing that out.. But I’ll take anything I can get at this point, even if it’s just rare and occasional compliance with lawful subpoenas.
Atta boy, Lucian! We often forget that some things change but most stay the same as it’s all in our current perception. As old Senator Sam Irvin
said about perception during the Watergate hearings that if an elephant walked into the hearing room, that some people would say, hey! It’s an elephant while others would say, nooo, its a mouse with a glandular condition.
Don’t forget Sarah Matthews! (Everyone in the communications office was an Ivanka Wannabee.) Anytime that she didn’t think anyone was watching, she was checking her hair out on the screen in front of her which was acting as her makeup mirror. Barbie goes to Washington. She threw out periodic “hail to the former chief” comments as well. There’s no more CASE TO MAKE. Nail the piece of excrement.
The one analogy you didn’t use, which I think is perfectly apropos, is that the Democrats and “centrists” in the USA are all victims of Stockholm syndrome.
Having been held hostage by the vicious Moronocracy of the Theocratic Party for far too many years, they (we?) crow with ecstatic praise when one of our captors actually turns on the Thug-in-Chief, after he overstepped his bounds in a way that not even she could swallow.
So all of us prisoners from cell block A to cell block Z cheer when one of the guards turns on the warden — conveniently only after the warden has already been fired and refused to leave the prison complex.
Our two party system is broken. Both parties are more focused on the next election as opposed to governing on behalf of the people. There was a time, sadly 70 years ago, when Republicans were more socially and fiscally responsible. Nixon started the slide. If you think the Republicans are vile, VOTE! The Dems need better messaging. Many Americans are voting AGAINST someone and not FOR someone.
Dems need to hire top notch Mad Men from Madison Avenue and PR the heck out of all that has been revealed by the Jan 6 Committee and then some - run the videos and tie everything to the GQP party that allowed this to happen.
Show clearly and simply what Biden has done in just about two years to correct four years of destruction under The Former Guy and actually help the average American, not the vested business interests.
Its a tall order, but it needs to be done between now and November to be sure at all levels of government, federal and state, the GQP is put out. Only then will Dems be in a position to protect the basic rights and public health, safety and welfare for all Americans that the GQP has been so determined to erode.
Yes, Republicans are pure scum — have been for at least our entire lives — AND we need Cheney at this moment because she’s doing what no one else was willing to, or could credibly in the eyes of the craven complicit media, do. Both things are true, like O.J. was guilty AND the cops were corrupt.
Just like none of us wanted Biden to be President but knew he was the only one who could beat Trump, at least SOMEONE is getting rid of Trump for us. But, yes, Lucian, every word you say here is true, and thank you for putting things in proper perspective.
Someone once told me to never turn your back on a Republican. They will stab it in a mini second.
On a local level, I have lived with Republican Mayors and Selectmen but I can keep a close eye on what's going on in my own backyard. It's when Republicans move to the state or federal level where it's not as easy to do.
Great insight helping us understand beyond the theater coming from the Republicans who testified and all Trumps cronies. Good point about how they are using the hearings to get Trump out of the way but will go right back to being Republicans. They stick together like glue.
Okay, I get it. Liz Cheney isn't Eleanor Roosevelt, but back then we had Josef Stalin as our BBF. But as long as Democrats continue to make the perfect the enemy of the good we need the Cheneys of the world to keep the United States of America a going concern. As the saying goes, 'ya dance with the one who brung ya'. Midway through his term, Democrats are dissing Joe Biden for being Joe Biden. Go figure.
You really drew back the curtain for me, reminding me not to fall for the "heroic" Cheney . When Pottinger spoke the glowing words of his president's accomplishments I smelled a rat for the first time.
Thanks for saying what I felt better than I could.
I think Steve Yarbrough makes a valid point vis-à-vis Liz Cheney. I don't agree with anything she stands for politically but unlike almost all of her Republican contemporaries in the House and Senate, she had the courage to put the country first when it desperately mattered. I think it's unfair to equate her with those who are willing to testify against Trump but freely admit they would vote for him again if he is the Republican nominee. Her contributions to the Committee have been great and her presence, along with that of Adam Kinzinger, have prevented critics from declaring that the January 6 Committee is simply a Democratic hatchet job. And, again, I stress that Liz Cheney and I only have one belief in common: the validity of the US constitution.
Yours is a more moderate view that I think is closer to the truth than today’s 100% repudiation. Pottinger really gave me the creeps with his humble bragging.
yeah, me too. every time one of those assholes talks about TFF's "great things," I yell at the screen and feel actual nausea, since I'm not aware of a more unsuccessful four-year presidential term in my lifetime. I'm not saying that other four-year terms accomplished good things, but they did get the stuff done they wanted to get done. this is my way of addressing "The Bush II Experience," with its rogues' gallery of unindicted war criminals. and Cippolone needs to take a beat to remember the Bronx.
This column is a frickin' doozy. All I can say is I WISH DEMS AND INDEPENDENTS would talk like this, say it loud and repeat key points ad infinitium, à la Bernie Sanders. But then, the Dems have to stop genuflecting before big oil, pharma, AIPAC and other rich lobbies. Just sayin'.
Well stated! I had similar thoughts as the smarmy Pottinger spoke his piece. I get aggravated when I hear, but he did so much good; just like when they said, but we need a good businessman in the office. People need to pull their heads out of their posteriors.
I also thought, but no one is talking about the damage trump and his administration has done to the morality of the country and the norms they have defiled. And I think that Putin was emboldened by trump's either intentional or unwitting actions. One can only imagine what would have happened to NATO and Ukraine if trump was still in office.
Lucian, once again, you are the ONLY commentator who tells it like it is. Pottinger is a smarmy, little weasel, who just "had" to resign on Jan 6th. But, hey, he's still proud of the drumpf administration "accomplishments." And, Sarah Matthews -- the "lifelong Republican" -- just had to leave the WH pursuant to the Jan 6th debacle. What about the 4 years of debacles? And, I'd love to hear Washington Barbie's definition of a "life-long Republican." Hell, the chick's not old enough to have formed any thoughtful ideology. (Guess Mom and Dad live in a nice McMansion, in a gated-community, and got their tax cuts). Then, we have 11th hour Cipollone, who still maintains executive privilege, attorney-client privilege (despite criminal act/content of said "privileged" communication), and suck-up-till-the-end privilege. Cipollone tried to get drumpf to make a statement regarding the violence at the Capitol being perpetrated by drumpf's foot-soldiers. Wow, what a hero. Cipollone thinks Mike Pence should be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for doing his fucking job and not following Dear Leader's demands that he commit an act of treason by overthrowing our government. What a bunch of pathetic white-collar, well-heeled, apparatchik thugs. True representatives of the Rethuglican party. But, hey, only the BEST people.
Back when folks in Northern Ireland were dying during the Troubles (so I was told by an Irish novelist friend of mine) the term ODC came into usage. ODC meant “Ordinary Decent Crime,” like burglary, car theft, even murder as long as it was not related to politics but was a crime of passion or a gangland hit job. Might I propose the term ODR? That would mean an ordinary decent Republican with whom I agree about absolutely nothing but who does not advocate overthrowing the government after losing an election? Our hopes and dreams grow ever smaller. I can go back to disagreeing with Liz Cheney about everything else if she makes certain that all we have to worry about are Republicans like her and her father, who, for the record, I will always despise.
I remember a phrase I heard in "The Long Good Friday"...."ordinary villainy."
One of the best crime films...EVER!
You have precisely identified the reasons I despair for my country. The GOP is a cult in search of a racist theocracy, a heartless monster willing to lie, cheat and steal to get it, destroying our grand experiment in the process. But where would we be without these witnesses, vile as they are? I have despised Republicans playing along with Trump and his predecessors for so long now (Ronald Reagan? Really?) that I’ve completely lost my perspective on human decency in a civil society. I appreciate your pointing that out.. But I’ll take anything I can get at this point, even if it’s just rare and occasional compliance with lawful subpoenas.
So well said! My head was exploding when “but his accomplishments” was uttered. They ALL knew.
Thank you for this newsletter.
Atta boy, Lucian! We often forget that some things change but most stay the same as it’s all in our current perception. As old Senator Sam Irvin
said about perception during the Watergate hearings that if an elephant walked into the hearing room, that some people would say, hey! It’s an elephant while others would say, nooo, its a mouse with a glandular condition.
Don’t forget Sarah Matthews! (Everyone in the communications office was an Ivanka Wannabee.) Anytime that she didn’t think anyone was watching, she was checking her hair out on the screen in front of her which was acting as her makeup mirror. Barbie goes to Washington. She threw out periodic “hail to the former chief” comments as well. There’s no more CASE TO MAKE. Nail the piece of excrement.
As usual Lucian, you hit it out of the park.
The one analogy you didn’t use, which I think is perfectly apropos, is that the Democrats and “centrists” in the USA are all victims of Stockholm syndrome.
Having been held hostage by the vicious Moronocracy of the Theocratic Party for far too many years, they (we?) crow with ecstatic praise when one of our captors actually turns on the Thug-in-Chief, after he overstepped his bounds in a way that not even she could swallow.
So all of us prisoners from cell block A to cell block Z cheer when one of the guards turns on the warden — conveniently only after the warden has already been fired and refused to leave the prison complex.
Our two party system is broken. Both parties are more focused on the next election as opposed to governing on behalf of the people. There was a time, sadly 70 years ago, when Republicans were more socially and fiscally responsible. Nixon started the slide. If you think the Republicans are vile, VOTE! The Dems need better messaging. Many Americans are voting AGAINST someone and not FOR someone.
With an occasional exception, describes my voting record of the last 50 years—voting against rather than for.
Me too! The defense rests!😁
Dems need to hire top notch Mad Men from Madison Avenue and PR the heck out of all that has been revealed by the Jan 6 Committee and then some - run the videos and tie everything to the GQP party that allowed this to happen.
Show clearly and simply what Biden has done in just about two years to correct four years of destruction under The Former Guy and actually help the average American, not the vested business interests.
Its a tall order, but it needs to be done between now and November to be sure at all levels of government, federal and state, the GQP is put out. Only then will Dems be in a position to protect the basic rights and public health, safety and welfare for all Americans that the GQP has been so determined to erode.
Seventy years ago the Republicans were looking for Communists under every bed.
I should have been more precise, I guess. Post Macarthyism. So 65 years ago.
Yes, Republicans are pure scum — have been for at least our entire lives — AND we need Cheney at this moment because she’s doing what no one else was willing to, or could credibly in the eyes of the craven complicit media, do. Both things are true, like O.J. was guilty AND the cops were corrupt.
Just like none of us wanted Biden to be President but knew he was the only one who could beat Trump, at least SOMEONE is getting rid of Trump for us. But, yes, Lucian, every word you say here is true, and thank you for putting things in proper perspective.
Thank you Paul
Thanks for the reality check.
Someone once told me to never turn your back on a Republican. They will stab it in a mini second.
On a local level, I have lived with Republican Mayors and Selectmen but I can keep a close eye on what's going on in my own backyard. It's when Republicans move to the state or federal level where it's not as easy to do.
Great insight helping us understand beyond the theater coming from the Republicans who testified and all Trumps cronies. Good point about how they are using the hearings to get Trump out of the way but will go right back to being Republicans. They stick together like glue.
Okay, I get it. Liz Cheney isn't Eleanor Roosevelt, but back then we had Josef Stalin as our BBF. But as long as Democrats continue to make the perfect the enemy of the good we need the Cheneys of the world to keep the United States of America a going concern. As the saying goes, 'ya dance with the one who brung ya'. Midway through his term, Democrats are dissing Joe Biden for being Joe Biden. Go figure.